Hi All,

As there are a few of us left on the forum I may as well ask this question which I can sort out over christmas.

Car is running ok, except at night, the charging warning light just about lights up (not full on as in turning ignition on, but just a glow) when the lights are turned on. It never happens during the day, due to the low load.....

Anyone got a simple answer for me to sort this out.....

Vindicator
ps Merry christmas to all...

Is the alternator belt slipping?

Or... have you a bad earth to the lights/alternator..

Or..the regulator could be FUBAR!

Sounds like the alternator is on its way out. Either that or the belt is slipping?

Could be the brushes or commuter are needing some attention, brushes may have jammed, don’t leave it as if that’s the problem as that will cause damage. Definitely the alt though

[Edited on 23/12/08 by Mr Whippy]

Be 99% certain that it'll be the alternator's fecked. It's likely to be the regulator. It's usually possible to have the relevant bits changed by your friendly autoparts place or auto electrics type establishment rather than replacing.

Get that cheque book out.

If the belt's slipping, it prob would have squealed it's nuts off by now.
Check the brushes as already mentioned. Don't bother checking the commutator (I think that's what Mr Whippy meant) as it won't have one.

If you have a commuter stuck under the bonnet then release him at once !!

All of the above but it could also be arcing at the rear terminals very common especially with the Lucas/Bosch 3 blade connector block..

To fix this Lucar tags have to be properly cleaned with abrasive paper and the spades should be renewened or at least gently crimped in to give a better connection.

Just been out with the lights full on at night for the first time also.

Allready suspected alternator was not 100% but as above the ignition light glimmers when the full lights are on so next stop a new alternator.

current one is 20 years old!!!

Paul

First of all I'd check that your belt is at the correct tension, and that it and the pulleys aren't greasy/oily. This affects mine from time to time.

The fact that it gets worse when the lights are on is not surprising - the alternator has to work harder to produce the power, and it takes that energy from the drive belt. If it's a bit slippy then there will be problems.

What engine are we talking about here?

Thanks for the help, no it's not the belt slipping.....and as far as I can tell the Alternator is pretty old....as it came with the engine and that is 1985......Bushes ermmm I don't think so and I can't see any arcing either.......

I'll check it out over Christmas while trying to get rid of a bloated stomach....

thanks

sorry forgot to mention that the engine is a standard 2lt pinto injection.....

engine bay
HTH

Had the same problem on an old Sunbeam Rapier I had. The car had an ammeter so initial fix was some blue tack to cover the warning light! and just keep an eye on the ammeter.

It lasted for a year and of course failed in the middle of a long journey late at night. Just managed to make the end of the journey before the battery gave up the ghost.

Had a spare regulator pack in my toolkit ready for the day it died, which cured the problem.

Had the same problem with 2 different motors in the past both were 1985 cars 1 was a bad connecting wire and the other a ill fitting plug into the back of it.